SWS: 17 party-list groups assured of House seats

MANILA, Philippines - Seventeen party-list groups led by Gabriela are poised to gain at least one seat in the House of Representatives after the upcoming polls, according to the latest survey released by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey, conducted from March 20 to April 2, showed that 17 party-lists obtained at least two percent of the votes, guaranteeing at least one seat in the 17th Congress.

Gabriela led the list with 6.20 percent, followed by Amin with 5.77 percent; Kabayan with 5.19 percent; Senior Citizens with 4.62 percent; Agri with 4.41 percent; Ang Kabuhayan with 4.17 percent; Act Teachers with 3.25 percent; Bayan Muna with 3.13 percent; An Waray with 3.05 percent and Agap with 2.93 percent.

Completing the list are Akbayan with 2.86 percent; Buhay with 2.75 percent; Kalinga with 2.71 percent; Aasenso with 2.58 percent; Ako Bicol with 2.20 percent; Aambis-Owa with 2.12 percent and Yacap with 2.07 percent.

A maximum of 59 seats in the House of Representatives are reserved for party-list groups, according to SWS.

The computation for the distribution of seats will follow a Supreme Court ruling in 2009, which said that party-lists that obtain at least two percent of the votes are guaranteed at least one seat.